Obama calls on US House to pass fiscal deal 'without delay'

January 01, 2013|Reuters

WASHINGTON, Jan 1 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obamacalled on Tuesday for the House of Representatives to follow theSenate's lead and pass a "fiscal cliff" deal to extend tax cutsfor middle-class Americans and raise tax rates on top earners.

"While neither Democrats nor Republicans got everything theywanted, this agreement is the right thing to do for our countryand the House should pass it without delay," Obama said in astatement after the Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve thelegislation.

"There's more work to do to reduce our deficits, and I'mwilling to do it. But tonight's agreement ensures that, goingforward, we will continue to reduce the deficit through acombination of new spending cuts and new revenues from thewealthiest Americans," Obama said.